49% used shared mobility for all five of their most recent intercity journeys. 70% would choose a premium shared bus over a personal car, train or flight for a 400–600 km journey if costs were identical. 82% say technology is very important to their intercity travel experience
India’s intercity travel preferences are undergoing a structural transformation, with young and working professionals increasingly choosing shared mobility over personal vehicles for long-distance journeys. According to a nationwide survey by IntrCity SmartBus titled “IntrCity SmartBus Intercity Mobility Survey 2026,” covering 13,320 respondents, nearly three-fourths (74.3%) of respondents are aged between 18 and 43 years, while 65.9% are salaried professionals – indicating that the country’s most active travellers are driving the next phase of shared mobility adoption.
The survey highlights that shared mobility has moved beyond being an economical alternative to becoming the preferred mode of intercity travel. Nearly half of respondents (49.2%) said all five of their most recent intercity journeys were made using shared mobility services such as buses, trains or shared transport. Looking ahead, more than three-fourths (76.3%) expect to increase their use of shared mobility over the next three years, reflecting growing confidence in organised, technology-led travel options.
The findings also reveal that today’s travellers are placing greater emphasis on experience than ownership. While over half of respondents have access to a personal vehicle, 30.4% said they own a car but prefer not to drive for intercity journeys. When asked to choose a mode of transport for a 400–600 km journey if costs were identical, nearly seven in ten respondents (69.6%) preferred a premium shared bus over a personal car, train or flight, highlighting changing consumer expectations around convenience, comfort and stress-free travel.
Technology continues to play a defining role in this shift. More than four in five respondents (82.4%) said technology is very important to their travel experience, with online bus ticket booking, easier digital access (42.5%), improved comfort and onboard amenities (43%), and avoiding the stress of long-distance driving (40.5%) emerging as the strongest reasons for increasing their use of shared mobility.
Safety remains the most influential factor shaping travel decisions. It ranked as the top consideration while choosing a shared mobility service (43%), ahead of affordability (42.5%) and comfort and cleanliness (40.5%). However, safety also emerged as the biggest barrier preventing greater adoption, with 33% of respondents citing safety concerns, reinforcing the need for organised operators to continue investing in passenger safety and service quality.
The survey also points to the emergence of a value-conscious traveller. More than 71% of respondents said they would be willing to pay more, or consider paying more depending on the journey, for services offering better safety, comfort and reliability, indicating that travellers are increasingly evaluating overall travel experience rather than ticket price alone.
Manish Rathi, Co-founder & CEO of IntrCity SmartBus, shared, “The Indian intercity traveller has evolved significantly over the last few years. Today’s passengers are looking beyond affordability and are placing equal importance on reliability, comfort, safety and digital convenience. The survey reflects a larger behavioural shift where shared mobility is becoming the preferred choice for frequent travellers because it delivers a better overall travel experience. As organised mobility continues to evolve, we believe technology, consistent service quality and customer trust will define the future of intercity transportation.”
Key Survey Insights
- 74.3% of respondents are aged 18–43
- 65.9% are salaried professionals
- 57.3% travel between cities at least 2–3 times every month
- 63.7% have increased their use of shared mobility over the past five years
- 76.3% expect shared mobility usage to increase over the next three years
- 49.2% used shared mobility for all five of their most recent intercity trips
- 69.6% would choose a premium shared bus over a personal car, train or flight for a 400–600 km journey if prices were identical
- 82.4% consider technology very important to their travel experience
- Safety (43%), affordability (42.5%) and comfort (40.5%) are the top factors influencing travel choices
Survey Methodology
The IntrCity SmartBus Intercity Mobility Survey 2026 received responses from 13,320 participants across metro, Tier 1, Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities and towns in India. The survey captured responses across age groups, occupations and travel frequencies to understand evolving intercity travel preferences, shared mobility adoption and future travel behaviour.
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